Ice maker with bucket filling feature

ABSTRACT

An ice storage bin assembly comprising an ice storage bin having a cavity for the storage of ice and an opening for access to the cavity. An ice dispensing chute is disposed internal to the ice storage bin and comprises an inlet and an outlet. Ice can be directed into the inlet where it is carried by gravity down to the outlet and deposited in a bucket disposed below the outlet. An ice dispensing chute closure means closes the inlet of the ice dispensing chute. The closure means can comprise a scoop adapted to be received in and seal the inlet of the ice dispensing chute or a raised portion disposed on the back side of a door which is adapted to seal the inlet of the ice dispensing chute when the door is closed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to ice making machines and, more particularly, to an ice storage bin that comprises an improved bucket filling design.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Ice making machines, or ice makers, typically comprise a refrigeration and ice making system that employs a source of refrigerant flowing serially through a compressor, a condenser, a thermal expansion valve, and an evaporator assembly. Thermally coupled to the evaporator assembly is a freeze plate comprising a lattice-type cube mold. Additionally, typical ice makers employ gravity water flow and ice harvest systems that are well known and in extensive use. Ice makers having such a refrigeration and ice making system are often disposed on top of ice storage bins, where ice that has been harvested is stored until it is needed. Such ice makers have received wide acceptance and are particularly desirable for commercial installations such as restaurants, bars, motels and various beverage retailers having a high and continuous demand for fresh ice.

In these ice makers, water is supplied at the top of a freeze plate which directs the water in a tortuous path toward a water pump. A portion of the supplied water collects on the freeze plate, freezes into ice and is identified as sufficiently frozen by suitable means whereupon the freeze plate is defrosted such that the ice is slightly melted and discharged therefrom into an ice storage bin. Typically, these ice machines can be classified according to the type of ice they make. One such type is a grid style ice maker which makes generally square ice cubes that form within individual grids of the freeze plate which then form into a continuous sheet of ice cubes as the thickness of the ice increases beyond that of the freeze plate. After harvesting, the sheet of ice cubes will break into individual cubes as they fall into the ice storage bin. Another type of ice maker is an individual ice cube maker which makes generally square ice cubes that form within individual grids of the freeze plate which do not form into a continuous sheet of ice cubes. Therefore, upon harvest individual ice cubes fall from the freeze plate and into the ice storage bin. Various embodiments of the present invention can be adapted to either type of ice maker, and to others not identified, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Ice storage bins typically have an upwardly swinging door located near the top of the ice storage bin which can be opened by swinging the door upward to provide access to the ice stored within storage bin. Ice must generally be retrieved from the ice storage bin by opening the door, reaching into the ice storage bin, and moving ice into a bucket or other receptacle that is placed on the floor or ground. When the ice storage bin is nearly full of ice, and particularly when the ice storage bin is filled with a small amount of ice, one must lean over into the ice storage bin and lift the ice out with a scoop or other tool. This process can be time-consuming and involves bending over numerous times. Ice and/or water are often spilled onto the floor or ground during this process, which can create a hazard. Reaching into the ice storage bin can be difficult, particularly for someone of short stature, and repetitively lifting scoops of ice from the ice storage bin can be difficult or uncomfortable.

Prior art ice makers that provide for filling of an ice bucket have been attempted in the past. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,887,758 to Hawkes, provides an apparatus for filling a bucket or receptacle with ice from an ice storage bin using an ice discharge gate that can be pulled to allow ice to fall via gravity out of the ice storage bin and into a bucket or cart. In the Hawkes design, a slidable ice baffle is used to ensure that ice is pulled off the bottom of the bin such that the ice is removed in a first-in, first-out (FIFO) sequence. The Hawkes design is complicated and expensive to produce.

Therefore, there is a need in the art for a cost effective and simple solution for filling a bucket or other receptacle from an ice storage bin which also provides for less ice spillage. Likewise there is a need in the art for a cost effective and simple solution for a filling a bucket or other receptacle from an ice storage bin that is more ergonomic and does not involve repeatedly bending over and lifting ice. Finally, there is also a need in the art for a cost effective and simple solution for a filling a bucket or other receptacle from an ice storage bin which allows the bucket to be filled more quickly than with the traditional method of lifting ice out of the bin one scoop at a time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly, therefore, one embodiment of the present invention is directed to an ice storage bin assembly comprising an ice storage bin having a cavity for the storage of ice and an opening for access to the cavity. The ice storage bin further comprises an ice dispensing chute disposed internal to the ice storage bin comprising an inlet and an outlet. Ice can be directed into the inlet where it is carried by gravity down to the outlet and deposited in a bucket below the outlet. The ice storage bin further includes an ice dispensing chute closure means adapted to close the inlet of the ice dispensing chute.

In one embodiment of the present invention, ice dispensing chute closure means comprises a scoop adapted to be received in and seal the inlet of the ice dispensing chute. In another embodiment of the present invention, ice dispensing chute closure means comprises a raised portion disposed on the back side of the door which is adapted to seal the inlet of the ice dispensing chute when the door is closed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the invention will become more fully apparent from the following detailed description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings, wherein the drawings illustrate features in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention, and wherein:

FIG. 1A is a right perspective view of an ice maker on an ice storage bin having a recessed area for filling a bucket or receptacle according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 1B is a right perspective view of an ice maker on an ice storage bin having a recessed area for filling a bucket or receptacle according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a right perspective view of an ice storage bin having a recessed area for filling a bucket or receptacle according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3A is a front view of an ice storage bin having a recessed area and an ice dispensing chute according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3B is a right cross section view of an ice storage bin having a recessed area and an ice dispensing chute according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3C is a right cross section view of an ice storage bin having a recessed area and an ice dispensing chute according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3CC is a right cross section detail view of an ice dispensing chute according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4A is a right view of an ice maker on an ice storage bin having a recessed area and an ice dispensing chute according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4B is a rear cross section view of the back side of an ice maker on an ice storage bin having a recessed area and an ice dispensing chute according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a front view of an ice storage bin having a recessed area and an ice dispensing chute according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5A is a right cross section view of an ice storage bin having a recessed area and an ice dispensing chute with both chute doors closed according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5B is a right cross section view of an ice storage bin having a recessed area and an ice dispensing chute with one chute door opened according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5C is a right cross section view of an ice storage bin having a recessed area and an ice dispensing chute with both chute doors opened according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6A is a front view of a scoop according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6B is a bottom view of a scoop according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6C is a right view of a scoop according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7A is a front view of an ice storage bin having a recessed area and an ice dispensing chute according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7B is a right cross section view of an ice storage bin having a recessed area and an ice dispensing chute according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7C is a right cross section view of an ice storage bin having a recessed area and an ice dispensing chute according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8A is a front view of an ice storage bin having an ice dispensing chute according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8B is a right cross section view of an ice storage bin having an ice dispensing chute according to one embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 8C is a right cross section view of an ice storage bin having an ice dispensing chute according to one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items.

As discussed above, U.S. Pat. No. 5,887,758 to Hawkes, provides an apparatus for filling a bucket or receptacle with ice from an ice storage bin using an ice discharge gate that can be pulled to allow ice to fall via gravity out of the ice storage bin and into a bucket or cart. In the Hawkes design, a slidable ice baffle is used to ensure that ice is pulled off the bottom of the bin such that the ice is removed in a first-in, first-out (FIFO) sequence. Furthermore, the ice discharge gate closes or seals the ice discharge spout. However, the ice storage bin according to embodiments of the present invention provides for the removal of ice stored in the ice storage bin in a last-in, first-out (LIFO) sequence. That is, the ice which is at the top of the ice stored in ice storage bin and that which was produced most recently is the first ice to travel through an ice dispensing chute and into a bucket or receptacle. Furthermore, Hawkes does not permit the opening of successive chute doors to accommodate low ice levels within the ice storage bin. Embodiments of the present invention are simpler and less expensive to fabricate, and are also simpler to disassemble for cleaning.

Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B one embodiment of an ice storage bin assembly with an ice dispensing chute is described. The ice storage bin assembly 30 includes an ice storage bin 31 having a cavity 36 in which ice produced by the ice maker falls into and is stored until retrieved. The ice storage bin 31 further includes an opening 38 which provides access to the cavity 36 and the ice stored therein. The cavity 36 and the opening 38 are formed by a left wall 33 a, a right wall 33 b, a front wall 34, a back wall 35 and a bottom wall (not shown). The walls of ice storage bin 31 may be thermally insulated with various insulating materials including, but not limited to, fiberglass insulation or open- or closed-cell foam comprised, for example, of polystyrene or polyurethane, etc. in order to retard the melting of the ice stored in ice storage bin 31. Ice storage bin 31 further includes recessed area 50 which is sized such that a bucket or receptacle 70 can be partially or completely placed within recessed area 50. As described more fully elsewhere herein, when a user wishes to fill bucket 70 with ice, the user can place bucket 70 into recessed area 50 and can direct ice into and through ice dispensing chute (not shown) where the ice will be deposited into bucket 70.

Ice storage bin assembly 30 further includes door 40. Door 40 may be rotatably connected to ice storage bin 31 by one or more hinges 47 which permit door 40 to swing from a closed position (FIG. 1A) to an open position (FIG. 1B). When door 40 is in the closed position (FIG. 1A), door 40 closes opening 38 and when door 40 is in the open position (FIG. 1B), cavity 36 of ice storage bin 31 is accessible. In certain embodiments, door 40 may swing downward from a closed position to an open position. In other embodiments, door 40 may swing upward from a closed position to an open position. Therefore, it will be understood that any embodiment may have an upwardly swinging or a downwardly swinging door 40 without departing from the scope of the present invention. Door 40 may, in certain embodiments, be constructed of multiple pieces or may, in other embodiments, be constructed of a single piece. Preferably, in one embodiment, door 40 may be formed as a single piece using a variety of processes including, but not limited to, a blow-molding process, an injection molding process, a rotomolding process, a three-dimensional printing process, etc. Accordingly, in particular embodiments, door 40 may be formed as a single piece using a variety of materials including, but not limited to, high impact polystyrene (HIPS), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), etc. Some embodiments of door 40 are hollow. While in other embodiments, similar to the walls of ice storage bin 31, door 40 may also be thermally insulated with various insulating materials including, but not limited to, fiberglass insulation or open- or closed-cell foam comprised, for example, of polystyrene or polyurethane, etc. in order to retard the melting of the ice stored in ice storage bin 31 and to provide additional structural rigidity.

Optionally, an ice maker having a refrigeration and ice making system may be disposed inside of a cabinet 16 which may be mounted on top of ice storage bin assembly 30. In certain embodiments, however as illustrated in FIG. 2, ice storage bin assembly 30 may be separate from cabinet 16 and may have a top wall 32 closing ice storage bin 31. Accordingly, it will be understood that embodiments of the present invention do not require cabinet 16 to be disposed on top of ice storage bin assembly 30 and the absence of cabinet 16 does not depart from the scope of the present invention.

Referring now to FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C, an embodiment of an ice storage bin assembly 30 with an ice dispensing chute 52 is described. In certain embodiments, an ice dispensing chute 52 is disposed on the inside of ice storage bin 31. Ice dispensing chute 52 has an inlet 54 and terminates at outlet 56 which opens to recessed area 50. As described more fully elsewhere herein, ice storage bin assembly 30 may also further include an ice dispensing chute closure means, including, but not limited to, a scoop 80, a raised portion of a door, etc. When a user wishes to fill a bucket 70 that is placed in recessed area 50 below outlet 56, the user can direct ice into inlet 54 where it is carried by gravity down and through ice dispensing chute 52 to outlet 56 and deposited into bucket 70 disposed in recessed area 50. A user can direct the ice into ice dispensing chute 52 by hand or by using a variety of tools, including, but not limited to, a scoop, a shovel, rake, etc. Preferably, ice dispensing chute 52 is disposed proximate front wall 34 of ice storage bin. By placing ice dispensing chute 52 in this location, ice dispensing chute 52 can be easily accessed by a user to fill a bucket 70. However, in other embodiments, for example, ice dispensing chute 52 can be disposed in any location within ice storage bin 31 including, but not limited to, proximate left wall 33 a, right wall 33 b, back wall 35, or proximate the center of ice storage bin 31. In certain embodiments, recessed area 50 may be formed into any of front wall 34, left wall 33 a, right wall 33 b, or back wall 35. In other embodiments, recessed area 50 may be bounded by a semi-circular wall affixed to any of front wall 34, left wall 33 a, right wall 33 b, or back wall 35. Thus, in certain embodiments, recessed area 50 may be at any location within ice storage bin 31 including, but not limited to, front wall 34, left wall 33 a, right wall 33 b, and back wall 35. Additionally, while in certain embodiments, ice dispensing chute 52 is substantially vertically oriented, it should be understood that, in other embodiments, ice dispensing chute 52 can be oriented at any angle which permits gravity-fed dispensing of ice into a bucket 70 without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Referring now to FIGS. 8A, 8B and 8C, another embodiment of an ice storage bin assembly 30 with an ice dispensing chute 52 is described. In certain embodiments, an ice dispensing chute 52 is disposed on the inside of ice storage bin 31. Ice dispensing chute 52 has an inlet 54 and terminates at outlet 56 in a wall of ice storage bin 31. Thus ice flowing through ice dispensing chute 52 will exit through a wall of ice storage bin 31 via outlet 56. In certain embodiments, an optional spout 68 may be attached to or integrally formed into a wall of ice storage bin 31 at outlet 56 which may assist in the depositing of ice in a bucket 70 disposed below outlet 56. Accordingly, in embodiments comprising optional spout 68, as ice exits outlet 56, ice can enter spout 68 and exit spout outlet 69 to be deposited in bucket 70. As described more fully elsewhere herein, ice storage bin assembly 30 may also further include an ice dispensing chute closure means, including, but not limited to, a scoop 80, a raised portion of a door, etc. When a user wishes to fill a bucket 70 under outlet 56, the user can direct ice into inlet 54 where it is carried by gravity down and through ice dispensing chute 52 to outlet 56 and deposited into bucket 70. A user can direct the ice into ice dispensing chute 52 by hand or by using a variety of tools, including, but not limited to, a scoop, a shovel, rake, etc. Preferably, ice dispensing chute 52 is disposed proximate front wall 34 of ice storage bin 31 and outlet 56 is in front wall 34. By placing ice dispensing chute 52 in this location, ice dispensing chute 52 can be easily accessed by a user to fill a bucket 70. However, in other embodiments, for example, ice dispensing chute 52 can be disposed in any location within ice storage bin 31 including, but not limited to, proximate left wall 33 a, right wall 33 b, back wall 35, or proximate the center of ice storage bin 31. Thus, in certain embodiments, outlet 56 may be in any wall of ice storage bin 31 including, but not limited to, front wall 34, left wall 33 a, right wall 33 b, and back wall 35. Additionally, while in certain embodiments, ice dispensing chute 52 is substantially vertically oriented, it should be understood that, in other embodiments, ice dispensing chute 52 can be oriented at any angle which permits gravity-fed dispensing of ice into a bucket 70 without departing from the scope of the present invention.

In various embodiments, as illustrated in FIGS. 3B, 3C, 4B, 5A, 5B, 5C, 8B and 8C, ice dispensing chute 52 may be comprised of one or more chute doors 60 a, 60 b which may be semi-circular in cross-section. Chute doors 60 a, 60 b may be placed against front wall 34 of ice storage bin 31 to form ice dispensing chute 52. Chute doors 60 a, 60 b prevent ice stored in ice storage bin 31 from falling through outlet 56. Additionally, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, chute doors 60 a, 60 b may be rotatably connected to the inside of ice storage bin 31 by hinge 62 which permits chute doors 60 a, 60 b to open independent of one another. Hinge 62 may include hinge pin 64 that connects chute doors 60 a, 60 b to ice storage bin 31. Hinge pin 64 may be removed and thus chute doors 60 a, 60 b can be easily removed for cleaning chute doors 60 a, 60 b and/or ice storage bin 31. It is to be understood that any hinge type, construction and/or location may be used that permits chute doors 60 a, 60 b to swing open without departing from the scope of the present invention.

By including chute doors 60 a, 60 b that can swing open, the depositing of ice into bucket 70 can be easily performed with varying levels of ice stored within ice storage bin 31 by opening the one or more chute doors 60 a, 60 b. By opening one or more chute doors 60 a, 60 b, inlet 54 of ice dispensing chute 52 can move downward. For example, as shown in FIG. 5A, when the level of ice in ice storage bin 31 is high, chute doors 60 a, 60 b may be kept closed. Ice can then be scooped or shoveled so that it enters ice dispensing chute 52 and falls out outlet 56 of ice dispensing chute 52 where it is deposited into bucket 70. When the level of ice in ice storage bin 31 is reduced, as shown in FIG. 5B, chute door 60 a may be opened and ice can easily be scooped or shoveled so that it enters ice dispensing chute 52 and falls out outlet 56 of ice dispensing chute 52 where it is deposited into bucket 70. By opening chute door 60 a, the effort required to insert ice into ice dispensing chute 52 is reduced because the user does not have to lift the ice up above chute door 60 a. When the level of ice in ice storage bin 31 is further reduced, as shown in FIG. 5C, both chute doors 60 a, 60 b may be opened and ice can easily be scooped or shoveled so that it enters ice dispensing chute 52 and falls out outlet 56 of ice dispensing chute 52 where it is deposited into bucket 70. By opening chute doors 60 a, 60 b, the effort required to insert ice into bucket 70 is reduced because the user does not have to lift the ice up above chute door 60 b or 60 a. Accordingly, by providing one or more chute doors 60 a, 60 b, certain embodiments of the present invention permit filling of bucket 70 with reduced effort by the user, reducing strain and the potential for ice to be spilled on the floor or ground.

Accordingly, in each of these embodiments, ice that was most recently produced is the first ice that is removed from ice storage bin 31 through ice dispensing chute 52 and deposited into bucket 70. That is, the last ice in is the first ice out (LIFO).

While in these embodiments, ice dispensing chute 52 and recessed area 50 may be semi-circular in cross-section, it is to be understood that in other embodiments, for example, ice dispensing chute 52 and recessed area 50 may be any shape including, but not limited to, circular, rectangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, etc. without departing from the scope of the present invention. Additionally, while embodiments of ice dispensing chute 52 comprising two chute doors 60 a, 60 b are illustrated herein, it is to be understood that in other embodiments, for example, one or more chute doors may be used without departing from the scope of the present invention. In one embodiment, for example, ice dispensing chute may comprise one or more chute doors 60. In yet another embodiment, for example, ice dispensing chute 52 may comprise two or more chute doors 60. In yet another embodiment, for example, ice dispensing chute 52 may comprise three or more chute doors 60. In yet another embodiment, for example, ice dispensing chute 52 may comprise four or more chute doors 60. In yet another embodiment, for example, ice dispensing chute 52 may comprise five or more chute doors 60. In yet another embodiment, for example, ice dispensing chute 52 may comprise six or more chute doors 60. In yet another embodiment, for example, ice dispensing chute 52 may comprise seven or more chute doors 60. In yet another embodiment, for example, ice dispensing chute 52 may comprise eight or more chute doors 60. In yet another embodiment, for example, ice dispensing chute 52 may comprise nine or more chute doors 60. In yet another embodiment, for example, ice dispensing chute 52 may comprise ten or more chute doors 60. In other embodiments, ice dispensing chute 52 may be a chute which is fixed such that it does not swing open; accordingly, in certain embodiments ice dispensing chute 52 does not have any chute doors. It should be understood that embodiments having chute doors 60, that chute doors 60 may not close or seal ice dispensing chute 52 and thus without some means of closing or sealing ice dispensing chute 52, there will be an opening into ice storage bin 31 through ice dispensing chute 52.

NSF Standard NSF/ANSI 12-2009 for “Automatic Ice Making Equipment,” paragraph 5.1.1 states that “equipment shall be designed and manufactured to prevent the harborage of vermin and the accumulation of dirt and debris, and to permit the inspection, maintenance, servicing and cleaning of the equipment and its components.” In order to meet this NSF requirement, to prevent vermin from gaining access to the food zone of ice storage bin 31 and to prevent cold air from escaping ice storage bin 31 through ice dispensing chute 52, an ice dispensing chute closing means is employed. Referring now to FIGS. 1B, 2 and 3C, and 3CC, one embodiment of an ice dispensing chute closing means is described in detail. In particular embodiments, ice dispensing chute closing means comprises scoop 80 which may be inserted into ice dispensing chute 52 and closes or seals inlet 54 of ice dispensing chute 52. As shown in more detail in FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C, one embodiment of scoop 80 may comprise a hollow, partially cylindrical scoop portion 82, having a top 84 with a handle 86. Top 84 may extend beyond the circumference of the partially cylindrical scoop portion 82 in order to assist scoop 80 in sealing inlet 54 of ice dispensing chute 52. Accordingly, as shown in detail in FIG. 3CC, scoop 80 may be adapted to completely close or seal inlet 54 of ice dispensing chute 52 and is further adapted so that top 84 rests on inlet 54 such that scoop 80 does not fall through ice dispensing chute 52. When a user desires to fill a bucket 70 with ice, the user can remove scoop 80 from ice dispensing chute 52 and using scoop 80, can scoop or shovel ice so that it enters ice dispensing chute 52 and falls out outlet 56 of ice dispensing chute 52 where it is deposited into bucket 70 and/or can scoop or shovel ice directly into a bucket without using ice dispensing chute 52.

Turning now to FIGS. 7A, 7B and 7C, another embodiment of an ice dispensing chute closing means is illustrated. This particular embodiment of ice dispensing chute closing means comprises a raised portion 49 of door 40 that is adapted to close and seal inlet 54 of ice storage dispensing chute 52 when door 40 is closed. In this particular embodiment, scoop 80 is not required to close and seal inlet 54 of ice storage dispensing chute 52.

Thus, there has been shown and described novel methods and apparatuses of an ice storage bin with an ice dispensing chute, which overcome many of the problems of the prior art set forth above. It will be apparent, however, to those familiar in the art, that many changes, variations, modifications, and other uses and applications for the subject devices and methods are possible. All such changes, variations, modifications, and other uses and applications that do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention are deemed to be covered by the invention which is limited only by the claims which follow. 

1. An ice storage bin assembly comprising: an ice storage bin having a cavity for the storage of ice and an opening for access to the cavity an ice dispensing chute disposed internal to the ice storage bin comprising an inlet and an outlet, wherein ice can be directed into the inlet where it is carried by gravity down to the outlet and deposited in a bucket disposed below the outlet; and an ice dispensing chute closure means adapted to close the inlet of the ice dispensing chute.
 2. The ice storage bin assembly of claim 1, wherein the ice storage bin further comprises a recessed area adapted to receive a bucket;
 3. The ice storage bin assembly of claim 1, wherein the outlet of the ice dispensing chute is in a wall of the ice storage bin.
 4. The ice storage bin assembly of claim 3, wherein a spout is at the outlet of the ice dispensing chute.
 5. The ice storage bin assembly of claim 1, wherein the ice dispensing chute is further comprised of one or more chute doors.
 6. The ice storage bin assembly of claim 5, wherein the one or more chute doors are rotatably connected to the ice storage bin such that the one or more doors are adapted to be opened to facilitate the depositing of ice into a bucket based on a level of ice in the ice storage bin.
 7. The ice storage bin assembly of claim 1, wherein the ice dispensing chute closure means comprises a scoop adapted to be received in and seal the inlet of the ice dispensing chute.
 8. The ice storage bin assembly of claim 1, further comprising a door rotatably connected to the ice storage bin by one or more hinges which permit the door to swing from a closed position to an open position; wherein when the door is in the closed position, the door closes the opening and when the door is in the open position, the cavity of the ice storage bin is accessible.
 9. The ice storage bin assembly of claim 8, wherein the ice dispensing chute closure means comprises a raised portion disposed on the back side of the door which is adapted to seal the inlet of the ice dispensing chute when the door is in the closed position. 